Surface rust on brake rotors

[Hootie]

So I washed and prepped my car for winter storage. I didn't think about the fact that after washing, the rotors were still somewhat wet. I parked the car and when on with my day.
I went to the garage today as my father in law wanted to see the car, so I pulled the cover off and while giving the mini tour noticed the rotors had rust on them. Normally I wouldn't care as they would just clean themselves up on the next drive, but, since that next drive may be a few months away, is there anything I should be concerned with?
I'm not sure if it'll be just fine and clean itself in the spring after a few stops, or letting it sit like that for too long will allow the rust to start getting more invasive.
Bottom line, do I need to do a fridgid drive to clean them up now, or will they be perfectly fine in Spring?
If it matters, the parking brake is not on, and wheel chocks are used to keep it where I left it.
That's all and Merry Christmas!

[quickster2]

I always went up and down the driveway after a wash to remove that flash rust and to make sure the exhaust had no water in it. I brought the engine up to temp to insure no moisure in that area as well. It does not take a drive to remove it just some back and forth. Others may weigh in with more opinions.

[outnumbered]

This is the very reason I stopped washing the car. I now pull the wheels off and wash them. Nothing worse than getting everything clean; specifically the wheels, only to have rust residue tint my clean black wheels with orange dust. I have protective film on most of the car, and it is extremely easy to just wipe the car down with detail cleaner.

[Gen5snake]

That rust it totally normal. You don't have to worry about it. Like quickster2 said, move it up and down the driveway while engaging the brakes and it will be gone. If the car was kept outside, the same thing would happen every time it rained.

[ViperGeorge]

If the rust bothers you just spray the rotors with a coat of WD-40. :stickmen_burningsti Yea, seriously don't do that! Go up and down your driveway a few times lightly applying the brakes as you do. This will clean them off and as long as they don't get wet you should be good till Spring.

[Fatboy 18]

Why not get them Carbon Dipped for that race look





:very_drunk:

[Steve M]

What's really fun is sometimes around here over the winter (or early spring) when we'll get a warm 60°+ day after it has been in the 20s and 30s for a long time. Open the garage door and the warm air causes instant condensation on the cold wheels and brake rotors, and then rust shortly thereafter on the rotors.

It is what it is, and it doesn't hurt anything.

[Hootie]

Thanks all. I'll do the driveway 500 for some peace of mind. I know it's a common thing and nothing to worry about during 'active' times of the year, but didn't know if letting it sit that way for months was a bad idea.

[DZnutz]

no matter what you do, iron will always rust. So will steel. If surface rust was of any concern on something as important as what stops your vehicle then I'm sure no one would produce cast iron rotors. Just relax, its a car.

[Topplayer]

here is the answer if you dont mind a little more work, perfect for when your washing a car that is going to sit.

https://www.autogeek.net/hydes-serum-rust-stopper.html

[swexlin]

no matter what you do, iron will always rust. So will steel. If surface rust was of any concern on something as important as what stops your vehicle then I'm sure no one would produce cast iron rotors. Just relax, its a car.

This, every vehicle I own or previously owned does this. The Viper in my garage, and the Ram sitting in my driveway right now.

[Fatboy 18]

Garage with a dehumidifier, Job done. Not driven my car since October, no rust so far.

[Hootie]

Yeah I get it completely. It's not CRES it's gonna rust. Which is completely fine. But on every other car I have they drive all year so it gets scrubbed off pretty regularly. I just wasn't sure if it was a problem to leave it rusty for months at a time, like if the minor surface rust would start to pit the rotor over the winter.

[Topplayer]

This, every vehicle I own or previously owned does this. The Viper in my garage, and the Ram sitting in my driveway right now.

https://www.autogeek.net/hydes-serum-rust-stopper.html